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Summer Institute Guide West Midlands Summer Institute 2019 Weeks 1-4 www.teachfirst.org.uk Page | 1 Teach First is a registered charity, no. 1098294
Contents Contents ............................................................................................... 2 Welcome ............................................................................................... 3 Where and when to arrive at Summer Institute 2019 ........................................... 5 What to bring to Summer Institute ................................................................ 8 Accommodation ..................................................................................... 10 Catering............................................................................................... 12 Travel ................................................................................................. 13 Dress code ............................................................................................ 15 Time off for Summer Institute .................................................................... 17 Reasonable adjustments and additional support requests .................................... 19 Facilities during Weeks 1-4 ........................................................................ 21 Events ................................................................................................. 24 Communication ...................................................................................... 25 Week 5 of Summer Institute ....................................................................... 26 Checklist & Actions ................................................................................. 27 www.teachfirst.org.uk Page | 2 Teach First is a registered charity, no. 1098294
Welcome
Dear Participant,
A very warm welcome to you to your West Midlands Leadership Development Programme. You have been
placed in a very exciting region; full of culture, history, sporting prowess and instant links to the rest of
the country at your fingertips.
You will meet your cohort of peers and the Teach First staff team when you arrive at Summer Institute in
June, and we are all looking forward to it so much. Summer Institute is an intense experience wherein
we:
• Introduce you to the region and its richness of opportunity
• Enable you to experience first -hand our school cultures and ways of working
• Give you knowledge of how schools operate their curriculum
• Begin your academic journey to your PGDE
Summer Institute won’t turn you into a teacher and it’s never been the aim. You will learn how to teach
when your contract begins in September, and for each one of you the journey will be different. Summer
Institute will prepare you for school by setting you up in readiness to know what to ask and who can
provide it. You will however ‘try teaching’ whilst at Summer Institute but it won’t be in your
Placement School, so you can relax and ‘have a go’! You will visit your Placement School of course, where
they will be very keen to settle you in and start your Induction to school policy and procedure.
Please make good use of this Handbook as it’s designed to support your journey and give you the
information you really need. Whilst on the Programme you will also receive monthly bulletins to keep the
relevant information flowing to you when you need it.
We look forward to welcoming you to Summer Institute and to supporting your journey towards excellence
in the classroom. There are so many young people in our region who are under-achieving due to a wealth
of negative factors, but you are the positive factor who will believe in them and enable them to aspire to
reach their personal potential. Thank you for this. We all know that feeling when one person really
believes in us, it feels so good.
Have a good rest before June and we all look forward to seeing you and to you becoming a part of the
West Midlands vision for change.
Anita Wheeler & Jennifer Owen Adams
Regional Directors, West Midlands
Teach First
www.teachfirst.org.uk Page | 3 Teach First is a registered charity, no. 1098294
Dear Teach First Participant, On behalf of Birmingham City University, a warm welcome to Summer Institute 2019 and the commencement of your journey on the Postgraduate Diploma in Education – Leadership in Learning (PGDE). We are looking forward to working with you over the next two years and supporting you as you develop as a teacher and pursue your goal of making a difference to the lives of the children and young adults that you will work with. The PGDE is a unique partnership with the University, the team at Teach First and your employing school – all three partners working with you and for you as you build your knowledge, skills, understanding and confidence. This close collaboration starts with the Summer Institute and the tutor team at BCU have been working over a number of months with the West Midlands Teach First team to ensure that what is in place for you over the coming four weeks will provide you with that essential first platform on which you can build in the coming months. I look forward to seeing you at the Opening Ceremony and wish you all the very best for a successful Summer Institute 2019. Professor Kevin Mattinson Associate Dean and Head of the School of Education & Social Work Birmingham City University www.teachfirst.org.uk Page | 4 Teach First is a registered charity, no. 1098294
Where and when to arrive at Summer Institute 2019 Arrival Day On Sunday 23 June, you will be arriving at Birmingham City University to begin Summer Institute! When you do arrive, you’ll need to go straight to University Locks to collect your room key and settle into your accommodation. Drop off will be available outside of University Locks. If you need to park for an extended period of time, we recommend using the Millennium Point car park, which is a short walk from University Locks. Arrival Day - Time Slots Closer to the time, you will be given further information and a designated time slot to arrive in, so please ensure you keep the entire day free. Arrival Day - Dress code There is no dress code for Arrivals Day, so please wear whatever is most comfortable for moving into your new accommodation. In the evening however, you are expected to dress up for the Opening Ceremony. For information on the dress code for the remainder of Summer Institute, please see page 21. Directions You will be based at Birmingham City University’s City Centre campus for the majority of your time at Summer Institute. It’s located just a short 15-minute walk from both Birmingham New Street and Moor Street stations. If travelling by car, please follow directions to Millennium Point which is clearly signposted from all main routes into the city – simply follow the brown tourist signs. Alternatively, please follow the Sat Nav postcode B4 7AP. Your accommodation, University Locks, is just a two-minute walk away from the City Centre Campus. University Locks Millennium Point, City Centre Campus 50 Curzon St Curzon Street Birmingham Birmingham B4 7XJ B4 7XG www.teachfirst.org.uk Page | 5 Teach First is a registered charity, no. 1098294
www.teachfirst.org.uk Page | 6 Teach First is a registered charity, no. 1098294
www.teachfirst.org.uk Page | 7 Teach First is a registered charity, no. 1098294
What to bring to Summer Institute Personal items In your room you will be provided with a sheet, duvet and duvet cover, pillow and pillow case, a hand towel and bath towel. If you require more than one set, you must bring these with you. There is a launderette on site where you can wash your laundry for a small cost. Toilet rolls are provided, however, toiletries are not so please bring your own. Kitchens are equipped with an oven, hob, microwave, kettle, toaster, fridge freezer, iron and ironing board. However, as you are fully catered throughout the duration of Summer Institute you will not be provided with pots, pans, crockery or cutlery. Should you wish to cook for yourself, you will need to bring these items yourself. Luggage We recommend bringing only one large suitcase as you will need to take everything with you to Leeds during Week 5. Laptop and cables You will need to bring a laptop to support with your learning during university content days. Please ensure your laptop can hold its charge for a reasonable length of time as plug sockets are limited. If you don’t have access to a laptop, you have the option to borrow one from Birmingham City University. This is only available to those who are fully enrolled. Please contact wmprogramme@teachfirst.org.uk if this applies to you. Documentation to bring to Summer Institute You must bring documentation to prove your identity in order to complete your enrolment. This will be either a valid passport or driving licence. In the run up to Summer Institute, the BCU Admissions team will be in touch outlining what documentation you need to upload to the applicant/enrolment portal and how to do this. Admissions will advise you individually if you ned to bring anything in addition to your proof of identity. www.teachfirst.org.uk Page | 8 Teach First is a registered charity, no. 1098294
www.teachfirst.org.uk Page | 9 Teach First is a registered charity, no. 1098294
Accommodation All accommodation will be provided throughout Summer Institute. In weeks 1-4 you will be staying at University Locks (50 Curzon St, Birmingham, B4 7XJ) which is just a 2-minute walk away from the University campus. In week 5 you will automatically be allocated a room at Leeds University. Post You can have post delivered to your BCU accommodation during weeks 1-4. Post needs to be addressed as follows: Name, University Locks, Block, Floor, Flat, Room, 50 Curzon Street, Birmingham, B4 7XJ Opting out of accommodation Summer Institute is an immersive and intensive five-week training experience and accommodation is provided for all participants throughout unless you complete the opt-out form. It is strongly recommended that all participants stay in the accommodation provided as this will support your health and wellbeing during the five weeks, and participants create support structures during Summer Institute that they rely on once they start school in September. However, we do understand that other commitments, such as childcare or health concerns, will impact on some participants’ ability to stay in the accommodation provided. Where this is the case participants have the opportunity to opt out of accommodation during Summer Institute. If you would like to opt-out of accommodation during weeks 1-4, please complete this form. If your circumstances change and you need accommodation, you need to notify us by Friday, 7 June. If you fail to do so you will need to source your own accommodation during weeks 1-4 of the Summer Institute. If you have any questions about this process or your circumstances change, please contact: wmprogramme@teachfirst.org.uk. www.teachfirst.org.uk Page | 10 Teach First is a registered charity, no. 1098294
www.teachfirst.org.uk Page | 11 Teach First is a registered charity, no. 1098294
Catering During your time at Summer Institute, you will be fully catered for with breakfast, lunch and dinner. Lunch and dinners on University days will have a staggered start time by subject/phase. You will be given a personalised timetable on Arrival Day which will tell you what your allocated timeslot is. Please do not arrive before your allocated time slot. Food will be served in C087 and at the food service area on the ground floor of the Curzon building. On School Centred Learning days and Placement days, you will be provided with 'grab-bags' for breakfast and lunch. You will be able to collect this from the catering area during dinner the evening before. Please note that on certain days such as university open days you will be given vouchers which can be used at any of the university eateries. You will be notified in advance when these days are. Dietary requirements All dietary requirements will be catered for. Members of the team will always be available to provide advice on the ingredients in the food and assist you with your choice. If you have any concerns or would like to discuss your dietary requirements with a member of the catering team ahead of or during Summer Institute, please email Morag Macdonald mmacdonald@baxterstorey.com or Adam Warden adam.warden@bcu.ac.uk. They would be more than happy to discuss your requirements and ensure that all your dietary needs are met. www.teachfirst.org.uk Page | 12 Teach First is a registered charity, no. 1098294
Travel Travel information will be shared with you closer to the start of Summer Institute. Parking There is no parking available during Summer Institute except for blue badge holders and participants with extenuating circumstances. If you have an extenuating circumstance, please email wmprogramme@teachfirst.org.uk by Friday 31 May to request a parking space for weeks 1-4. Please note that requests will be considered on a case by case basis and approved by our the West Midlands Senior Leadership Team. If you choose to bring your car it is at your own risk and cost and you are responsible for ensuring it is kept secure for the duration of your stay. www.teachfirst.org.uk Page | 13 Teach First is a registered charity, no. 1098294
www.teachfirst.org.uk Page | 14 Teach First is a registered charity, no. 1098294
Dress code Academic sessions, ceremonies, school visits During Summer Institute, you are expected to dress in appropriate business wear. This includes during your university content days, school centred learning days and during visits to your placement school. We also recommend you dress smartly for the Mentor event, where you will meet the mentor that you will be working with in your placement school from September. Social occasions At the end of Week 4 we will be hosting our ‘Final Night Party’ - keep an eye out for the theme and dress accordingly! www.teachfirst.org.uk Page | 15 Teach First is a registered charity, no. 1098294
www.teachfirst.org.uk Page | 16 Teach First is a registered charity, no. 1098294
Time off for Summer Institute
Attendance at Summer Institute
It is compulsory for participants to attend all of Summer Institute. We do however acknowledge that there
will be cases when participants will be unable to attend a session and will need to request time off in
advance of Summer Institute starting.
Where this is the case, participants should apply to their region for an approved absence (please see the
sections below on how to apply for an absence).
Whatever the circumstances surrounding the absence, it remains the responsibility of the participant to
catch up on any missed training, further details about catching up on missed content below.
Requesting absence
Attendance at Summer Institute is compulsory, absences can only be approved if they fall within the
policy:
• Incoming participants will be allowed a maximum of no more than two days absence
• No more than one day of absence will be approved during Week 5
• Absences during School Placement or School Centred-Learning days will be considered in
exceptional circumstances only
• Participants should build travel times into absence requests
• Teach First reserves the right to decline any absence request if it is deemed to be outside of the
policy
• Regional teams will consider absence requests on a case-by-case basis
Requests for absences must be considered as either:
• A significant personal event (e.g. university graduation or family wedding);
• A recognised religious holiday (e.g. Eid)
Any exceptions to the above principles may be considered but will require sign-off from the Regional
Director.
How to request an absence during SI
Participants are required to submit absence requests following their regional process with full supporting
details as soon after allocation as possible. Requests will be considered on an individual basis and
regional teams will notify participants within two weeks with the outcome.
If you would like to submit an absence request, please complete this form by Friday 7 June 2019. A
member of the team will get back to you within two weeks with a response. Requests made during SI
will be considered in exceptional circumstances only.
Unauthorised absence
Successful completion of Summer Institute is the final stage of the assessment for the Leadership
Development Programme, and is a core requirement of the PGDE. As such, unauthorised absences will be
treated seriously.
Participants missing any element of Summer Institute without going through the proper process and
obtaining approval based on the processes in this document will be reviewed by the regional team
alongside university partners who will determine the next steps in light of the particular circumstances.
www.teachfirst.org.uk Page | 17 Teach First is a registered charity, no. 1098294Persistent absenteeism could result in failure to complete Summer Institute and result in removal from the programme. Absence through illness Information on what to do in case you are unable to attend sessions due to illness will be shared with you closer to Summer Institute. www.teachfirst.org.uk Page | 18 Teach First is a registered charity, no. 1098294
Reasonable adjustments and additional support requests
Teach First is committed to inclusion and recognises that participants may require adjustment support
during Summer Institute. To address this, there are options available to participants who may need
support, and these will fall under one of two categories:
1. Reasonable Adjustments
These are business as usual (BAU) requests for reasonable adjustments during Summer Institute. They are
normally submitted via the Personal Information Form (PIF) and include requests from participants with
special educational needs or disabilities (SEND), dietary requirements, logistical requirements e.g.
accommodation or requests based on religious beliefs.
2. Exceptional Adjustments
These are adjustments which require financial input and/or specific planning and support from Teach
First and university providers. Requests might include exceptional SEND requirements that need financial
input, and logistical needs.
If you have an adjustment you feel you need support with but did not include it on your PIF, please get
in touch with your regional contact or Recruitment officer straight away. If you are unsure if this applies
to you, please contact semorris@teachfirst.org.uk.
For further specific details on reasonable and exceptional adjustments, including Week 5 provision of
childcare and family accommodation, please visit your Participant Portal.
www.teachfirst.org.uk Page | 19 Teach First is a registered charity, no. 1098294www.teachfirst.org.uk Page | 20 Teach First is a registered charity, no. 1098294
Facilities during Weeks 1-4
Teaching venues
During Summer Institute you will receive your training at Birmingham City University, or your School Centred
Learning school.
Science and Primary participants will spend some time at City South Campus (in Edgbaston) during Week 4
to access Science labs and PE lessons. You will receive more information about this nearer the time.
Participant support
If you have any questions or problems during Summer Institute, please do not hesitate to ask any Teach First
member of staff. We’ll be happy to help!
• Helpdesk are scheduled throughout Summer Institute. During these times members of staff will be
available in the Curzon eatery to answer any questions you may have.
• At other times, there’ll always be a member of Teach First staff available during office hours on
BCU campus Monday – Friday. The Teach First office is in Curzon Building, room C484.
• For non-urgent queries or concerns, please email the West Midlands programme team:
wmprogramme@teachfirst.org.uk
Support facilities
• As you will be a registered student at Birmingham City University their Student Services here offers
a range of health and wellbeing support and guidance
• Our Wellbeing and Resilience toolkit is available here on the Community Website to give you
additional tools to support you on the programme
• Details on how to find and register with a new GP if you are relocating to the West Midlands
Laundry facilities
The 24/7 launderette is situated next to the social common room on the ground floor in University Locks.
Access is via the key card issued on arrivals day. The cost for washing is £2.80 and £1.30 for drying.
IT and library access at Birmingham City University
Once you have enrolled, you will be provided with a BCU email address and login details so that you can
access the University systems. WiFi will also be made available via the eduroam network.
If you have any IT issues during Summer Institute, please speak to the IT helpdesk which is located on the
first floor of the Curzon Building. You can also call them on 0121 331 6543 or email ithelp@bcu.ac.uk.
You will also be able to access the library located on the ground floor of the Curzon Building. The
opening/closing times will be confirmed shortly.
Printing
Once you have enrolled and collected your student ID card, you will be to use the printers at the Birmingham
City University campus. Printing does cost; however, you will receive £5 complementary credit once you
have enrolled.
www.teachfirst.org.uk Page | 21 Teach First is a registered charity, no. 1098294Sports facilities
During the first four weeks of Summer Institute, you will be able to purchase a month pass to The Doug Ellis
Woodcock Sports Centre at Aston University which is a short walk from University Locks accommodation. It
has a fully equipped gym, swimming, sauna and steam facilities.
We’ll share further information regarding membership options & pricing and details on how to sign up nearer
the time.
Multi-faith chaplaincy
Faith space can be found in the Curzon Building, where you will be based, in room 149 (level 1).
Alternatively, please use room 326 (level 3) in Millennium Point which is a very short walk from the Curzon
building.
Medical facilities
There is a Boots pharmacy which is approximately a 15-minute walk away from University Locks.
The address is: 66 High St, Birmingham, B4 7TA.
The nearest NHS walk-in centres are:
• Birmingham NHS Walk-in Centre: Lower Ground Floor, Boots- The Chemists Ltd, 66 High Street,
Birmingham, B4 7TA
• Summerfield GP and Urgent Care Centre: Summerfield Primary Care Centre: 134 Heath Street,
Winson Green, B18 7AL
• Washwood Heath Urgent Care Centre: Clodeshall Road, Washwood Heath, Birmingham, B8 3SN
www.teachfirst.org.uk Page | 22 Teach First is a registered charity, no. 1098294www.teachfirst.org.uk Page | 23 Teach First is a registered charity, no. 1098294
Events The weekends are completely free time to do whatever you choose! The city of Birmingham has lots to offer so we recommend taking a look at the Live Brum and Visit Birmingham websites to find out what’s on. Social activities During Summer Institute, we’ll be hosting several extra-curricular social activities. These are a great way to have some fun, relax and get to know your fellow participants. We’ll be sharing details of these shortly. Action Network Action Networks are regional groups of leaders within the participant and ambassador community. Action Networks are the go-to point for Teach First when we need to consult our community on important work. You will have a chance to meet Action Network representatives during Summer Institute and will be given information on how to apply to become an Action Network representative for your cohort. www.teachfirst.org.uk Page | 24 Teach First is a registered charity, no. 1098294
Communication Email bulletins You’ll already know about your monthly bulletins that you’ve been receiving once your Teach First offer was made. During SI, these will ramp up to weekly as we’ll have lots to tell you! From September you’ll receive bulletins from us every fortnight, so you’re kept in the loop with key information and community news. ACTION: Please ensure your email is up to date, especially if you used your university email to apply for the programme. To update your email, please contact your Recruitment Officer or regional team. Summer Institute App The SI App will be used for Summer Institute to host your timetable, provide you with updates on the go, and host key information you’ll need during SI. You’ll receive a prompt to download the app ahead of SI and login with your username and password (provided closer to the time). Participant Portal The Participant Portal is accessed via http://my.teachfirst.org.uk and is introduced ahead of Summer Institute to host and signpost key information you’ll need to succeed at SI. The Participant Portal is used in addition to the SI App. During the Leadership Development Programme, the Participant Portal will guide you through the programme, provide access to the tools and support you’ll need to complete your PGDE. The Participant Portal will replace the Community Website over the coming years, but you may still see it referenced. Community Website The Community Website (http://community.teachfirst.org.uk) is open to participants, ambassadors, Teach First employees, mentors and tutors. The website allows those within the Teach First community to create and share content - including blogs, information and resources. Teach First aims to phase out the Community Website over the next few years but you may still need to visit it on occasion. Social media At Teach First we’re huge fans of Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. You’ll find us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Follow the hashtag #TFSI2019 and get involved! The West Midlands team have separate accounts where information relevant to West Midlands participants will be shared. You can follow us on Instagram and Twitter or join our Facebook group. BlueSky During Summer Institute and throughout the duration of the Leadership Development Programme, you will require access to BlueSky. BlueSky is an online tool which is used by all participants, their Participant Development Lead, BCU tutor and school mentor to set objectives, upload weekly journal reflections and review progress. You will receive full training on how to use BlueSky during Week 1 of Summer Institute. www.teachfirst.org.uk Page | 25 Teach First is a registered charity, no. 1098294
Week 5 of Summer Institute Week 5 brings all participants across our regions together for one final week of Summer Institute. Because the week is huge, we need to share information with you for that part of SI in a slightly different way than Weeks 1 to 4. Week 5 will have a special place on your SI App, and we’ll include important Week 5 information in your weekly SI bulletins as well. You’ll also hear about the Teacher Development Conference, which takes place over the last two days of Week 5 and is a really great way to round off the five weeks. Keep an eye out on your bulletins for more information. www.teachfirst.org.uk Page | 26 Teach First is a registered charity, no. 1098294
Checklist & Actions
Action See page Deadline
Apply for a parking permit if you have an extenuating Page 13 31/05/2019
circumstance which requires you to drive to BCU, by
emailing wmprogramme@teachfirst.org.uk
If you would like to request an absence, please Page 17 07/06/2019
complete this form.
If you would like to opt-out of accommodation during Page 10 07/06/2019
weeks 1-4, please complete this form.
Complete the Teach First tasks on the Application Page 8 23/06/2019
Portal.
Complete the BCU online enrolment tasks Page 8 23/06/2019
Bring your proof of identity documents to Arrivals day Page 8 23/06/2019
Participant Preparation Course (PPC)
The Participant Preparation Course contains one module which you will need to complete before the start
of Summer Institute in June. This should only take three hours, so you’re encouraged to complete it closer
to Summer Institute. The module also includes guidance on arranging the five days of school orientation
experience (SOE) which is strongly recommended. You can access the Participant Preparation Course
through the Application Portal.
Key links
• Teach First Application Portal
• Subject knowledge enhancement courses
• Birmingham City University Student Services
• Teach First Wellbeing and Resilience toolkit
• Registering with a GP
• Teach First Participant Portal
• Teach First Community Website
Congratulations again on joining the programme, we look forward
to welcoming you to the West Midlands during Summer Institute
and working with you throughout your time on the programme and beyond.
www.teachfirst.org.uk Page | 27 Teach First is a registered charity, no. 1098294teachfirst.org.uk
Teach First is a registered charity, no. 1098294
www.teachfirst.org.uk Page | 28 Teach First is a registered charity, no. 1098294
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